Method and apparatus for reducing materials



J. K. MOORE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING MATERIALS Filed Aus- 1951 Jfy- 5 Sheets-Sheet l 2 jf'y- 23 I 1N VEN TOR. (/40? K Aloe/ lrmP/m s y 3, 1955 J. K. MOORE 2,707,594

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING MATERIALS Filed Aug. 6, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet s IN VEN TOR.

Jack k Mad/e May 3, 1955 .1. K. MOORE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING MATERIALS Filed Aug. 6, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I v IN VEN TOR.

Jack K Moore A7 TORNEXS J. K. MOORE May 3, 1955 Filed Aug. 6, 1951 I I '1 [l ,loz low- %/I03 $5,149. H9 I04- I 7 f us 1/2 -lzz I. w' f I Q I f,- I23 0Q: V/IJ v I [/0 INVENTOR. 0 Jack K. Moore.

, j 1 BY 2W ATTORNEYS United States Patent NIETHQD AND APPARATUS FGR REDUCING MATERIALS Jack K. Moore, Tucson, Ariz.

Application August 6, 1951, Serial No. 240,513

16 Claims. (Cl. 241-) This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for reducing a material composed of particles having different Weight and size to particles having substantlally like Weight and size, and is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 752,534 filed June 4, 1947, and which copending application has been s nce abandoned.

The present practices in reducing materials result in particles of widely varying size and shapes, so that many processing stages are required in obtaining ultimate particles of like size and Weight. For example, in the manufacture of flour and similar products, many grinding and sifting stages are required to release the endosperm or flour particles from the branny husks of the Wheat berries. After cleaning and tempering the grain is broken down on roller mills to obtain liour stock. This flour stock consists of flour and granular products known as middlings, which comprise particles of pure flour, pure husk and particles of flour attached to particles of husk, all of varying sizes. These particles are then classified as to size by an involved sifting method to sort out the different sized particles, which are again passed through grinding rolls and again classified as to size. This grinding and classifying is continued until all of the flour particles have been reduced to desired fineness and are free of contaminating bran particles. It is obvious that these many stages require a large investment in machinery, a multi-story building to house the machinery, and an involved system of ducts and conveyors to carry the various streams of particles to and from the machines,

with the result that the manufacture of flour is a cornplicated and expensive process. Another difficulty is that the numerous machines and duct systems have vacant spaces which are diflicult to clean and being out of contact with the scouring effect of the streams of particles accumulate contaminating material in which vermin multiply. Consequently, the flour cannot beproduced under sanitary conditions.

The above difficulties are true in manufacturing other products where a uniform product is desired, for example, in the manufacture of detergents, grinding compounds, face powders, polishing materials, powdered sugar, various paint materials, and in the reduction of ores and other materials too numerous to mention.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive method and apparatus for reducing particles of different size and weight to particles of like size and weight and which eliminate most of the many grinding, sifting and classification stages referred to above.

It is a further object of the invention to effect reduction of a material Without accumulating a large percentage of particles smaller than the desired size.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and equipment for reducing materials, and particularly food products, under sanitary conditions, so that they are free from contamination.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the inven- 2,707,594 Patented May 3, 1955 tion hereinafter pointed out, I have provided an improved method which is carried out with a novel apparatus illustrated in the present drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of an apparatus for reducing particles of material in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through the discharge end of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section through the inlet end of the apparatus, particularly illustrating the rotor and guide ring for imparting kinetic energy to the particles to be reduced, and guiding the particles for movement in a helical path to effect their reduction.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 showing the valve mechanism for controlling inlet of material to be reduced.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section particularly illustrating the relative relation of the rotor and guide ring.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the rotor, parts of which are broken away and in section to better illustrate the construction thereof.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 1 and showing helical movement of the particles and discharge thereof.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the upper portion of the cylindrical casing showing spinning movement of the particles of different size along the cylindrical surface thereof, the section being taken on the line 9-9 on Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a similar section taken at a lower point indicated by the line 101li on Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a similar section showing further reduction of the material, the section being taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a similar section taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 8 and showing the particles reduced to particles of substantially like size and Weight.

Fig. 13 is a vertical section through a modified form of apparatus used in carrying out the process and employing a circumferential series of reduction chambers.

Fig. 14 is a cross section on the line 1414 on Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a vertical section showing a modified form similar to that shown in Fig. 13 but the center portion is closed by a transverse diaphragm extending horizontally at a point immediately below the inlets to the circumferential series of reduction chambers.

Fig. 16 is a further modified form of the invention utilizing a circumferential series of reduction chambers.

Fig. 17 is a horizontal section on the line 17-17 of Fig. 16.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention for carrying out my improved method of reducing materials to particles of like size and Weight.

Since the method contemplates gyrating or revolving theparticles about a central point or an axis of rotation at high velocity-for imparting kinetic energy to the particles, proportional to the centrifugal force resulting from the gyration of the particles, the apparatus includes a motor 2 for driving a rotor 3 on which the particles are carried in horizontal revolution about the axis of the rotor and from which the the particles are discharged to be deflected by an encircling guide ring 4 onto the inner surface of an elongated cylindrical casing 5 that is coaxial with the axis of the rotor, and against which the particles of material move downwardly in a helical path extending coaxially of the casing.

The casing 5 is shown as comprising a plurality of cylindrical sections 6, 7, 8 and 9, each having a circular wall it provided at the ends thereof with outwardly extending flanges 11 and 12, by which the sections are connected together in cnd-to-end relation by fastening devices such as bolts 13. While I have shown the casing as comprising four sections, any number of sections may be used to give the desired length of travel in effecting uniform reduction of the material by the time it is discharged from the lower section of the casing.

In most instances the casing is substantially longer in length than its diameter. For example, the length of the casing will be at least there times its diameter, de pending upon the nature of the material to be reduced and the size and Weight of the ultimate particles. The casing may be formed of any suitable material, such as sheet metal, to provide the walls having a smooth interior surface 14.

The casing is supported in substantially perpendi lei position and is preferably suspended from a frame 15 carried on a suitable support 16 that has an opening 17 through which the casing extends, as shown in Fig. l. The upper section 6 of the casing has a flange 3.3 by which the casing is attached to a platform 19 of the frame 15 by fastening devices such as cap screws 23.

Mounted on the platform 19 is a plate 21 having an axial opening 22 concentric with the axis of the casing and through which the material is passed, as later de' scribed. The motor 2 is mounted in a cylindrical casing like support 23 that has a footing flange 24 attached to the plate 21. by cap screws 25. The motor is thus supported in coaxial relation with the casing.

Extending transversely across the upper side of the plate 21 is a groove 26 forming a guideway for valve plates 27 and 28. The valve plates have inner ends 29 and 30 arranged to overlap each other and the adjacent portions are of substantially semi-circular shape, as indicated at 31 and 32, to form a circular opening when the plates are in retracted position for establishing a full flow of material through the inlet opening 22. The plates are moved relatively to each other for valving the inlet opening by means of an operating ring 33 that encircles the base of the motor support, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The ring 33 has eccentric arcuate slots 34 and 35 that extend across the outer ends of the valving plates, as best shown in Fig. 5. Carried by the outer end of the valving plates are screws or pins 36 and 37 that project through the slots and form connections with the ring 33. The ring 33 is adapted to be oscillated about the axis of the motor support by means of a knob or handle 38 so that the arcuate slots have a camming action on the pins 36 and 37 to move the valving plates to and from valving relation for regulating the amount of material that can pass through the opening 22, as well as to control air how or to maintain the flow of material so as to shut off any air flow into the casing.

The motor 2 may be of any suitable type, but is preferably designed to provide a variable speed for the rotor 3 and should operate at speeds above 7500 R. P. M. so as to impart the desired energy to the particles of material, as later described. The motor 2 has the drive shaft 39 depending through the inlet opening 22 and the lower end is tapered as at 40 and provided with a reduced threaded terminal 41 to mount the rotor 3.

The rotor 3 is best illustrated in Fig. 7 and includes a. horizontal disk-like plate 4.2 of smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the casing to accommodate the guide ring 4 therebetween. The disk 42 carries a plurality of pairs of studs 43, with the studs of each pair preferably arranged radially with respect to each other and extending upwardly through the upper face 44 of the disk. The terminal ends of the studs have reduced threaded portions 45 to provide shoulders 46 to seat a ring member 47 having a diameter conforming to the diameter of the disk 42 and an inner diameter equal to or slightly larger than the inlet opening 22 to provide an axial opening 43 by which the material passes into the rotor. The studs 43 extend through suitable openings 49 in the disk and have the threaded tcrminals 45 thereof turned into internally threaded apertures 50 in the ring 47 as shown in Fig. 7 to removably clamp blades or vanes 51. The vanes 51 have rear faces 52 abutting against the respective pairs of studs. The forward faces 53 of the blades are preferably concave transversely as indicated at 54 to effect movement of. the material along the center of the blades and effect discharge thereof in a thin radial stream onto the deflector ring To assist in feed of the material the disk 42 may have a circular series of pins 55 that are arranged within the opening 48. The under side of the disk 42 has a hub 56 provided with a tapered opening 57 conforming to the taper 46 of. the motor shaft. The rotor thus described is retained in fixed position on the motor shaft by a lock nut 53 that is turned upon the threaded extension 41 of the shaft to the rotor tightly on the tapered end of the shaft and maintain the discharge of the rotor in fixed relation with respect to the guide or deliector ring 4. The material to be reduced may be delivered through the motor support by way of an inlet opening 5) that may be connected with a suitable delivery duct (not shown) which leads to a so rce of supply of the material.

The lower section 9 of the casing preferably contains a cone 60 comprising a plurality of segments 61 having upwardly extending side flanges 62 and 63 by which the sections are secured together and the cone retained in concentric relation with the casing. The flanges are connected together by fastening devices such as bolts 64 to form radial vanes 65 for stopping the helical movement of the material and to effect linear movement thereof downwardly through an annular outlet 66 that is formed between the base 67 of the cone and the wall of the section 2 The cone is supported within the section 9 on a crossbar 68 that is carried from the wall of the casing section by adjusting screws 69 and 74)., as best shown in Fig. 3. The lower section has a funnel-shaped discharge section '71 having a flange 72 that is secured to the lower flange of the section 9 by fastening devices such as bolts 73. The lower end of the funnel section has a flange '74 for connecting a discharge duct to lead the reduced material to a suitable storage, not shown.

The guide or deflector ring 4 has a fiat upper face that seats against the plate 21 and has a fiat outer face '76 that seats against the inner face of the upper section 5 of the casing, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The inner and lower side of the ring is concave to provide a downwardly curving annular guiding surface '77 that merges into the cylindrical surface of the casing to receive the material discharged circumferentially of the rotor and guide the material onto the inner surface of the casing and thereby eliminate attrition of the particles by impact, since the curvature starts directly at the discharge of the rotor and deflects the material onto the inner surface of the cylindrical casing. The guiding surface of the deflector ring, in a vertical direction, is preferably at least three times the vertical depth of the rotor pass-arcways and the rotor is correspondingly spaced from the will of the c ng as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The guide ring is retained in position by cap screws 73 that extend through the plate 21 and into threaded sockets '79 of the ring as shown in Fig. 6. At times it may be desirable to substantially shut olf flow of material. To permit complete closing of the valving plate, the inner ends thereof are provided with semi-circular recesses or notches Si and 31 conforming to the diameter of the motor shaft 3?", as best shown in Fig. 5.

in using the apparatus constructed and assembled as described, the motor 2 is energized to bring the speed of the rotor up to at least 7500 R. P. M. so as to impart energy to the material. When the motor is up to operating speed, the valving plates are opened by moving the opera g ring 33 the roper direction to start flow of material through the opening 43 of the rotor onto the upper face of the disk which carries the particles for movement from the axis of rotation and in a horizontal plane at a velocity to effect their circumferential discharge and for imparting kinetic energy to the particles proportional to the centrifugal force which results from the rotation of the rotor. The particles on being discharged from the periphery of the rotor are moved along the guiding surface of the guide or deflector ring and onto the inner surface of the casing for movement in a helical path. The inertia and centrifugal forces retain the particles in grinding and rolling contact with the cylindrical surface and cause the particles to spin on their own axes or centers at velocities proportional to their weight. This spinning action of the particles at high velocities generates within the particles a centrifugal force to cause disruption of the particle into ultimate particles of substantially like weight and size. shown in Fig. 9 that the initial particles are of different size, consequently the larger particles, being heavier, are retained against the surface under greater pressure than the smaller or lighter particles and they will spin at greater volocities, so that they are more quickly reduced f to particles approaching the desired size. The smaller particles, being lighter, will have less reduction. As the particles gradually move down the cylindrical surface they all reach an ultimate uniform size and weight, as shown in Fig. 12.

The rate of feed at the inlet may be adjusted so as to exclude flow of air into the casing, however, if a flow of air is desired into and through the casing along with the particles, the valve plates may be adjusted to admit the desired amount of air, which is drawn into and centrifugally discarded by the rotor along with the particles of material. It is obvious that all the particles are directed by the curvature of the guiding surface 77 downwardly and in the same general helical direction and that they move downwardly in an orderly manner along the inner surface of the cylinder so as to avoid attrition by collision and impact at the time they contact the guide ring 4.

All the particles are kept in continuous grinding and rolling contact with the cylindrical surface along the full length of the casing by the centrifugal pressure of the respective particles. Attention is further called to the fact that the guide or deflector ring which encircles the rotor curves directly into the cylindrical surface of the wall and in position to receive tangentially the particles discharged from the rotor, so that the particles are smoothly started in their movement in a helical direction about the inner surface of the casing. The movement of the particles is continuous and under control from the time they are admitted to the casing and they are continuously removed from the lower end of the casing through the funnel-shaped discharged section.

The fineness of the grind is dependent upon the speed of circumvolution which governs the pressure with which each individual particle rubs against the cylindrical surface. Therefore, to increase the speed of reduction, it is only necessary to increase the speed of circumvolution and to decrease the reduction, the speed is correspondingly reduced. This is effected by controlling the speed of the motor.

in Fig. 13 is illustrated a modified form of an apparatus for carrying out reduction of a material in accordance with the present method. In this form of apparatus, the cylindrical'casing 85 includes a cylindrical tube having a wall 86 provided with a circumferential series of longitudinally extending bores 87, the bores being spaced apart and extending from the upper portion of the tube to the bottom thereof. The upper portion of the tube is connected with the guide or deflector ring 88 by fastening devices 89 that extend through the top fit of the supporting frame 91 to retain the parts in rigid assembly.

The motor 92 and propeller-93, as well as the inlet control valve 94, are identical in construction with the corresponding parts of the first described form of apparatus. The bores 87 are so formed that they start in- It is scribed form.

tersec-ting the interior cylindrical face 95 of the tubular casing at a point below the guide ring 88 so as to provide a smooth annular surface 96 on which the material discharged from the rotor is initially distributed in a thin circumferentially moving stream for passage into slotlike entrances 9'7 to the respective bores 87 and in which the materials to be reduced travel downwardly in a helical'path in exactly the same manner as the particles of material travel downwardly in the large cylinder of the first described form of the invention. However, the direction of material rotation in the bores 87 is in reverse to the direction of rotation of the rotor. The lower end of the casing is provided with a funnel-like guard 98 having its periphery engaging the inner surface of the cylinder and having its lower end opening as at 99 into a cone-shaped bottom 100 of the cylindrical casing. The bores 87 thus discharge into an annular passageway 101 between the cone-shaped baffie 98 and the cone bottom 100 of the casing for discharge through an outlet duct 102.

In this form of the invention, the material is fed into the rotor 93 in exactly the same manner as the material in the first described form and the material is discharged by the rotor and deflected onto the cylindrical surface 96 in the same manner as previously described. The stream of material on contacting the surface 96 flattens itself into a thin film of the particles which travel downwardly at high velocity but which divides itself into streams upon entering the respective slot-like openings to the bores 87 and in which the streams of material start rotating in reverse direction while going down and around the surface of the bores. With this arrangement the R. P. M. of the particles of material is greatly increased over the speed of the materials in the first de- For example, where the material hugs the cylindrical wall of the casing in the first described form with a force of 23,000 g., the force on the particles in the smaller tubes increases upon to 320,000 g.

The particles of material, on traveling down the surface of the bores, are reduced to a uniform size in the same manner as in the first described form of apparatus. The material is assisted in entering the slots by providing the funnel-like guard 98. This guard makes the air and material enter the bores and stay therein until discharged through the passageway 101.

With this form of invention, the rotor is of substantially larger diameter relatively to the diameter of the bores 87 so that the motor 92 may be operated at lower speeds while obtaining the desired reduction of the particles of material. Therefore, a less expensive motor equipment may be used in operating the rotor. This also makes it possible to provide an apparatus of much larger per hour capacity because the possible capacity of the first described apparatus is limited to the amount of horse power that can be used with such high speed equipment.

The grinding force can be greatly increased by increas-- ing the diameter of the rotor so that greater forward speed of the material and air is achieved which gives the material-more R. P. M.s in the relatively smaller diameter cylinders that are provided by the bores 87. Another advantage is that a lower speed of the rotor reduces the abrasion problems in this critical point and the rotor will remain in balance for a longer period of time when operating on abrasive materials such as ores and the like.

The form of invention shown in Fig. 15 is very similar to that shown in Figs. 13 and 14. In this form the casing 102 has a cylindrical wall 103 of sufficient thickness to completely accommodate the circumferential series of cylindrical bores 104 therein so that the material may travel completely around the bores as it moves downwardly therethrough. Slot-like inlets 105 are provided at the upper end of the bores by counterboring the wall 103 to intersect the bores and form an annular internal shoulder 106. The shoulder 106 seats a diaphragm or closure plate 107 so that the upper ends of the bores are closed, with the exception of said inlets. The rotor 3:98 and the other structure, including the guide 109, correspond with the corresponding parts shown in Figs. l3 and 14. The operation of this embodiment of the invention is substantially the same, with the exception that all of the material is caused to enter the slot-like openings 1% and travel downwardly and spirally of the bores 104.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 16, the structure follows that illustrated in Fig. 15, with the exception that the circular series of bores 110 are formed by a circular series of tubes 111 having externally reduced upper ends 112 engaged in sockets 113 of a head 114, the sockets being formed in an annular wall 115 of the head. The inner face 116 of the wall 115 extends upwardly and curves inwardly as at 11.7 to encircle the rotor 118 and form the guide 119. The portion of the wall having the sockets is provided with tangential ports 120 whereby the material travels downwardly from the guiding surface 119 and around the face 116 to pass through the slots 120 and spirals downwardly at high speed through the bores of the tubes to effect reduction thereof. The lower ends of the tubes are located in socket 121 that are formed in a bottom plate 122. The lower ends of the tubes 11.1 have outlets into a funnelshape hopper 123 through openings 1% in the plate 122. The head is closed below the ports 12% by a cone-shape diaphragm 125 so that all of the material to be reduced is caused to pass through the ports 120 as in the case of the material in the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 15.

The tubes are retained in position by rods 126 that connect the diaphragm 125 with the bottom plate 122, as shown in Fig. 16.

The operation of this form of the invention is the same as that disclosed in Fig. 15 except that the material enters the bores of the tubes through the tangential ports or passageways 120.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a simple and inexpensive method and apparatus for .j

effecting simultaneous reduction of different size particles of material to a desired uniform degree of fineness.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of reducing a material composed of similar density particles having different size to particles having substantially like size including moving said particles outwardly from a vertical axis of rotation at high velocity while maintaining said particles substantially in a horizontal plane for imparting kinetic energy to said particles proportional to centrifugal force resulting from said movement of the particles, deflecting said particles in a smooth and gradually curving path for movement in a helical path along a cylindrical surface in a thin film, dividing said film of particles into separate helical paths spaced circumferentially of the moving film in grinding and rolling contact with cylindrical surfaces arranged in circular series about the axis of rotation, and spinning said particles about their centers while in contact with said cylindrical surfaces at velocities proportional to their size, whereby centrifugal force generated within said particles causes the particles to disrupt into ultimate particles of substantially like size, and removing the particles of like size.

2. The method of reducing a material composed of similar density particles having different size to particles having substantially like size including moving said particles outward from a vertical axis of rotation at high velocities while maintaining said particles substantially in a horizontal plane for imparting kinetic energy to said particles proportional to centrifugal force resulting from said movement of the particles, deflecting said particles in a smooth and gradually curving path for movement in a helical path along a circumferential surface in a thin film, dividing the film of particles into separate helical paths spaced circumferentially of the moving film in grinding and rolling contact with cylindrical surfaces arranged in circular series about the axis of rotation and in reverse direction to the initial direction of rotation, spinning said particles about their centers while in contact with said cylindrical surfaces at velocities proportional to their size whereby centrifugal force generated within said particles disrupt the particles into ultimate particles of substantially like size and removing the particles of like size.

3. The method of reducing a material composed of similar density particles having different size to particles having substantially like size including moving said par ticles outward from an axis of rotation at high velocities while maintaining said particles in a substantially horizontal plane for imparting kinetic energy to said particles proportional to centrifugal force resulting from said movement of the particles, deflecting said particles in a smooth and gradually curving path for movement in a thin film in a helical direction, reversing the direction of the film of particles for movement in a helical path along a circumferential surface extending substantially parallel with the initial axis of rotation while retaining the particles in grinding and rolling contact with said surface under centrifugal pressure of the particles, spinning said particles on their centers while in contact with said cylindrical surface at velocities proportional to their size whereby ccntrifugal force generated within said particles disrupt the particles into ultimate particles of substantially like size, and removing the particles of like size.

4. The method of reducing a material composed of similar density particles of different size to particles having substantially like size consisting of continuously feeding the particles of different weight and size into one end of an elongated cylindrical enclosure at substantially the axis thereof, continuously discharging the material at high speed centrifugally while said particles are maintained substantially on a horizontal plane within said end of the enclosure for imparting kinetic energy to said particles, continuously diverting the particles by confacing thereof with a stationary circumferential surface tangent to the movement of the particles and smoothly curving directly into the inner cylindrical surface of the enclosure to cause all of said particles to move only in the same helical direction, reversing the direction of movement, and continuing helical movement of the particles in said reverse direction while the particles are held in continuous grinding and rolling contact with a cylindrical surface along the length of the enclosure by the centrifugal pressure of the respective particles thus effecting a reduction of the particles into particles of substantially like size, and continuously removing the particles from the other end of the cylindrical enclosure.

5. The method of reducing a material composed of similar density particles having different size to particles having substantially like size consisting of continuously feeding the particles into one end of an elongated cylindrical enclosure at substantially the axis thereof, continuously discharging the material at high speed centrifugally while maintaining said particles substantially in a horizontal plane within said end of the enclosure for imparting kinetic energy to said particles, continuously diverting the particles by contacting thereof with a stationary circumferential surface tangent to the movement of the particles and smoothly curving directly into the inner cylindrical surface of the enclosure to cause all of said particles to move initially in a helical path in the same rotary direction, diverting the particles to move in reverse rotary direction in a spiral path while holding said particles in continuous grinding and rolling contact with said cylindrical surface along the full length of the enclosure by the centrifugal pressure of the respective particles thus effecting a reduction of the particles into particles of substantially like size, and continuously removing the particles from the other end of the cylindrical enclosure.

6. A method of reducing a material composed of similar density particles having different size to particles having substantially like size including moving said particles outwardly from a vertical axis of rotation at high velocity while maintaining said particles substantially in a horizontal plane for imparting kinetic energy to said particles, proportional to centrifugal force resulting from movement of the particles, deflecting said particles in a smooth and gradually curving path for movement in a helical path along a circumferential surface and then causing the particles to move at higher velocities to reduce said particles to particles of like size.

7. A method of reducing a material composed of similar density particles having different size to particles having substantially like size including moving said particles outwardly from a vertical axis of rotation at high velocity While maintaining said particles substantially in a horizontal plane for imparting kinetic energy to said particles, proportion to centrifugal force resulting from movement of the particles, deflecting said particles in a smooth and gradually curving path for movement in a helical path along a circumferential surface and then reversing spiral movement of the particles and causing the particles to spin at higher velocities to reduce said particles to particles of like size.

8. An apparatus for reducing a material composed of similar density particles of different size to particles having substantially like size including a vertically elongated casing having a cylindrical wall provided with a circular series of bores extending parallel with the axis of the casing and having inlets below the upper end to provide an uninterrupted annular surface having vertical circumferentially spaced slots, an annular guide having an axially curved deflecting surface merging into said uninterrupted annular surface, a rotor having rotational support coaxially of the casing and in registry with the guide, means for continuously feeding the particles to the rotor at substantially the axis thereof, a high speed actuating means connected with the rotor to drive the rotor at a high speed to impart kinetic energy to the particles and effect tangential discharge thereof from the periphery of the rotor onto said guide ring for movement in a thin film over said uninterrupted surface and discharge into the slots for continuing movement in a helical direction along the surface of the respective bores so that the particles are held by centrifugal pressure of said particles in continuous rolling and spinning contact with the surface of said bores along the full interior length thereof for reduction of said particles into particles of substantially like size.

9. An apparatus for reducing a material composed of similar density particles of different size to particles having substantially like size including a vertically elongated casing having a cylindrical wall providing a substantially smooth interior surface extending substantially the length of the casing, said wall having a circular series of bores extending parallel with the axis of the casing and intersecting said interior surface to provide slots extending longitudinally of the casing and spaced from one end to provide an uninterrupted annular portion, a guide into said uninterrupted annular surface of the casing, a rotor having rotational support coaxially of the casing and in registry with the guide, means for continuously feeding the particles to the rotor at substantially the axis thereof, and actuating means connected with the rotor to drive the rotor at high speed to impart kinetic energy to the particles and effect tangential discharge thereof from the periphery of the rotor onto said guide for movement in a thin film over said uninterrupted surface for discharge through the slots into the bores for continuing movement in a helical direction along the surface of the respective bores so that the particles are held by centrifugal pressure of said particles in continuous rolling and grinding contact with the surface of said bores along the length thereof for reduction of said particles into particles of substantially like size.

10. An apparatus for reducing a material composed of similar density particles of different size to particles having substantially like size including an elongated casing having a cylindrical wall providing a substantially smooth interior surface extending substantially the length of the casing, said wall having a circular series of bores extending parallel with the axis of the casing and intersecting said interior surface to provide slots extending longitudinally of the casing and spaced from one end to provide an uninterrupted annular portion, a guide having an axially curved deflecting surface merging into said uninterrupted annular surface of the casing, a rotor having rotational support coaxially of the casing and in registry with the guide, means for continuously feeding the particles to the rotor at substantially the axis thereof, and actuating means connected with the rotor to drive the rotor at high speed to impart kinetic energy to the particles and effect tangential discharge thereof from the periphery of the rotor onto said guide for movement in a thin film over said uninterrupted surface for discharge through the slots into the bores for continuing movement in a helical direction along the surface of the respective bores so that the particles are held by centrifugal pressure of said particles in continuous rolling and grinding contact with the surface of said bores along the length thereof for reduction of said particles into particles of substantially like size, a baffle carried in the end of the casing opposite to the guide for facilitating movement of air and material into the slots and having an axial outlet opening.

11. An apparatus for reducing a material composed of similar density particles of different size to particles having substantially like size including a vertically elongated casing having a circular series of bores extending parallel with the axis of the casing and having inlets at upper ends thereof, a guide having an axially curved defleeting surface continuing into an annular surface having said inlets, a diaphragm closing the casing below said inlets, a rotor having rotational support coaxially of the casing and in registry with the guide, means for continuously feeding the particles to the rotor at substantially the axis thereof, and actuating means connected with the rotor to drive the rotor at high speed to impart kinetic energy to the particles and effect tangential discharge thereof from the periphery of the rotor onto said guide for movement in a thin film over said annular surface for discharge through the inlets into the bores for continuing movement in a helical direction along the surface of the respective bores so that the particles are held by centrifugal pressure of said particles in continuous rolling and grinding contact with the surface of said bores along the length thereof for reduction of said particles into particles of substantially like size.

12. An apparatus for reducing a material composed of similar density particles of different size to particles having substantially like size including a vertically elongated casing having a circular series of bores extending parallel with the axis of the casing and having inlets at upper ends thereof, a guide having an axially curved deflecting surface continuing into an annular surface having said inlets, a rotor having rotational support coaxially of the casing and in registry with the guide, means for continuously feeding the particles to the rotor at substantially the axis thereof, and actuating means connected with the rotor to drive the rotor at high speed to impart kinetic energy to the particles and effect tangential discharge thereof from the periphery of the rotor onto said guide for movement in a thin film over said annular surface for discharge through the inlets into the bores for continuing movement in a helical direction along the surface of the respective bores so that the particles are held by centrifugal pressure of said particles in continuous rolling and grinding contact with the surface of said bores along the length thereof for reduction of said particles into particles of substantially like size.

13. An apparatus for reducing a material composed of similar particles of different. size to particles having substantially like size including an elongated casing having a cylindrical wall provided with a series of bores extending parallel with the axis of the casing, said casing having an interior annular surface at its upper portion intersecting the upper ends of the bores and providing inlets into said bores, a guide having an axially curved deflecting surface merging into said annular surface Within the upper portion of the casing, a rotor having rotational support coaxially of the casing and in registry with the, guide, means for continuously feeding the particles to the rotor at substantially the axis thereof, and actuating means connected with the rotor to drive the rotor at high speed to impart kinetic energy to the particles and effect tangential discharge thereof from the periphery of the rotor onto said guide for movement in a thin film over said surface for discharge. through the inlets into the bores for continuing movement in a helical direction along the surface of the respective bores so that the particles are held by centrifugal pressure of said particles in continuous rolling and grinding'contact with the surface of said bores along the length thereof for reduction of said particles into particles of substantially like size.

14. The method of reducing a material composed of similar density particles having different size to particles having substantially like size including moving said particles outwardly from a vertical axis of rotation at high velocity while maintaining said particles substantially in a horizontal plane for imparting kinetic energy to said particles proportional too the centrifugal force resulting from said movement of the particles, deflecting said particles in a smooth and gradually curving path for movement in a helical path along a cylindrical surface in a thin film, dividing said film of particles into separate helical paths spaced circumferentially of the moving film at high velocities in contact with cylindrical surfaces arranged in circular series about the axis of rotation to reduce the particles to substantially like size and removing the particles of like size.

15. The method of reducing a material composed of similar density particles having different size to particles having substantially like size including moving said particles outwardly from an axis of rotation at high velocities while maintaining said particles in a substantially horizontal plane for imparting kinetic energy to said particles proportional to centrifugal force resulting from movement of said particles, deflecting the particles in a smooth and gradually curving path for movement in a thin film in a helical direction, deflecting particles of said film for movement in a helical path at high velocities along a cylindrical surface extending substantially parallel with the axis of the initial rotation and removing particles.

16. An apparatus for reducing a material composed of similar density particles of different size to particles having substantially like size including a vertically elongated casing having a circular series of bores extending parallel with the axis of the casing and having inlets at upper ends thereof, a guide having an axially curved deflecting surface continuing into an annular surface having said inlets, a rotor having rotational support coaxially of the casing and in registry with the guide, means for continuously feeding the particles to the rotor at substantially the axis thereof, and actuating means connected with the rotor to drive the rotor at high speed to impart kinetic energy to the particles and effect tangential discharge thereof from the periphery of the rotor onto said guide for movement in a thin film over said annular surface for discharge through the inlets into the bores for continuing movement in a helical direction along the surface of the respective bores so that the particles are held by centrifugal pressure of said particles in grinding contact with the surface of said bores along the length thereof for reduction of said particles into particles of substantially like size.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 582,873 Nilsson et al. May 18, 1897 677,702 Russell et al July 2, 1901 990,633 Campbell Apr. 25, 1911 1,211,736 Marshall Jan. 9, 1917 1,267,110 Parsons et al May 21, 1918 1,427,457 Gillespie Aug. 29, 1922 1,777,205 Kutazewicz Sept. 30, 1930 1,917,266 Lissrnan July 11, 1933 2,032,827 Andrews Mar. 3, 1936 2,257,907 Griswold Oct. 7, 1941 2,294,920 Lykken Sept. 8, 1942 2,304,264 Lykken Dec. 8, 1942 2,339,568 Hobbie Jan. 18, 1944 2,428,670 Hulse Oct. 7, 1947 2,441,613 Balassa May 18, 1948 2,529,679 Dodds Nov. 14, 1950 2,550,168 Smid Apr. 24, 1951 2,562,560 McCartney July 31, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,893 Great Britain of 1891 8,605 Great Britain of 1890 665,653 Germany Sept. 30, 1938 878,576 France Oct. 19, 1942 OTHER REFERENCES Kents Mechanical Engineers Handbook, R. T. Kent, 11th edition, Design Shop Practice, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Publishers. Section 25, pages 20 and 21.

Ser. No. 355,397, lyiri (A. l. 0), published May 4, 1943. 

